March 12, 2017: Our Great High Priest

Hebrews series message 8

Text: Hebrews 4:14-16

Last week was a really important message in this series. What is the rest that God offers, and what does it look like? It is to cease from our works and efforts, bow the knee to Christ and receive the gift of salvation. It's all grace, through faith and not of works. Looking back, God demonstrated this by resting on the seventh day ("ceasing from his activity"). Jesus said, "Come to me, all you who are weak and heavy leaden...and I will give you rest.". But we can't let this precious gift pass us by. 

Now, he implores us to hold fast to our confession. He begins an in depth explanation of Jesus Christ, our great high priest, the implications of which are varied and also wondrous for us. We'll begin tying in OT teachings on the high priest and holy of holies and such. Though Jesus suffered and died for us, He lives to make intercession for us in heaven. It's all just so awesome. 

Key concepts are boldness and confidence in approaching His throne to find mercy, grace and help when we need it the most. 

 

March 5, 2017: Seal the Deal!

Hebrews series message 7

Text: Hebrews 4:1-13

Last Sunday and this Sunday are powerful motivations towards evangelism. In Sunday's passage we are implored to make sure we enter into God's rest (salvation). There was an entire generation who died in the wilderness without entering the promised land. Joshua led the next generation into the promised land but Jesus is better than Joshua because the physical land was a type of a spiritual reality. Even though the Israelites entered the earthly Canaan, there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God: salvation. Our author devotes no less than two chapters to this crucial decision before us all and reminds us that the very Word which calls us to salvation is alive and active and convicts us of our need for a Savior. 

February 26, 2017: "Can You Hear Me Now?"

Hebrews series message 6

Text: Hebrews 3:7-9

Last Sunday we started Hebrews 3. This week, we'll unpack the rest of the chapter: key concepts to think about include God's voice, today, hardened hearts, wilderness, deceitfulness of sin, and unbelief. It's not light reading, but this passage has a powerful message that we all do well to heed. 

February 19, 2017: Consider Jesus

Hebrews series message 5

Text: Hebrews 3:1-4

This passage starts out with "Consider Jesus..." or, "Set your thoughts on Jesus". It's another powerful apologetic for the superiority of Christ (this time, over Moses). As "holy brothers" we'll consider Jesus' marks, message, MO, and mandate. 

 

February 12, 2017: For Those Running

Text: Various Scriptures

I've been wanting to speak to the refugee crisis for a while. It's in the news, in our news feeds, and a hot topic with the current administration. It's also not a new problem. This is not a political activist message but one which answers the questions: What is God's heart for refugees and What might my response be? We'll look at selected verses and focus on the account of Ruth. Local opportunities to serve will be given. 

February 5, 2017: Our Stupendous Savior

Hebrews series message 4

Text: Hebrews 2:11-18

Hebrews 1 is a tour de force in establishing the deity of the Son. Hebrews 2 is the flip side of that argument. You're wearing sandals and you look like me, yet you uphold the cosmos by your own power? The Son is 100% human as well. Imagine - He had to put His trust in God. That's not easy, but He did it. Can't get much more human than that. Why was it necessary for Jesus to be fully human? So He could redeem every square inch of my heart. Three specific reasons, actually: so He could reconcile me to God through His death, so He could destroy the devil and my fear of death, and so He stand before God as my faithful high priest. He is better than the angels and the prophets, but He fully shares my humanity. 

So wondrous and so integral to my salvation. 

January 29, 2017: Such a Great Salvation

Hebrews series 3

Text: Hebrews 2:10

I had plans to complete this chapter in two weeks but just could not move past verse 10. It contains such rich Gospel truth and comfort for us, I want to unpack this verse by itself. Two primary truths that will lead us in to Communion: bringing us to glory and our Savior being made perfect through suffering. Through the valleys and heartaches of life, this is not our home. We are citizens of heaven and merely pilgrims passing through. And the only pathway toward this reconciliation and heavenly inheritance is through the suffering of the Son - how seriously do we view our sin? Charles Spurgeon  reminds us not to belittle the "lesser sins", for which Christ suffered and died in order to redeem us. 

January 15, 2017: The Slow Drift

Hebrews series message 2

Text: Hebrews 2:1-9

After the brilliant display of Christ's glory in chapter one, the author entreats us to pay attention - close attention- to what we've heard. We need to make and keep the Gospel central in our hearts. If we have not embraced Christ as Savior, we must seal the deal. If we are a Christ follower, that's a daily decision. By nature, we drift...we drift from the truth and we drift from our convictions. He's calling on us to reject passivity and to be intentional about what we believe. There's broad application both in evangelism and also discipleship. One 1/22 Jason will follow up and cast a vision from the elders regarding prioritizing evangelism  from II Corinthians 5. 

 

January 8, 2017: He Stands Alone Pt. 2

Hebrews series message 1 part 2

Text: Hebrews 1:4-14

How important is it...really...for people to believe in Jesus? Don't all paths lead to truth (if there even is such a thing)? Do we need to share the Gospel with our neighbors, colleagues and family? Isn't it arrogant to expect others to change their worldview when they're perfectly happy as they are? As we conclude Hebrews 1 we encounter some heavy theology - shock and awe - as our author convincingly makes the case that Christ is superior to even the angels. It is this Christology that speaks well to the aforementioned question.